Falconry

A Boonville man is one of Indiana's few falconers.

Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press "Mad Hatter", a Harris Hawk belonging to Falconer Jason Mooney of Boonville, Ind., keeps a watchful eye on the field as Mooney plays the part of hunting dog attempting to scare up game for the hawk. The duo works together to hunt in a way that dates back for more than 3,000 years.

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Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press 14 year old Bradey Sanders seems impressed at the size of the Red Tailed Hawk of Falconer Brian Thorpe at the annual Falconers Field Meet in Evansville, IN. "It's definitely a cool way to hunt" Sanders later said. Evansville, IN 1/14/12

2012 Darryl Smith

Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Jason Mooney of Boonville, IN, one of few falconers in the state of Indiana clearly takes pride in his HarrisÄôs Hawk Äú Mad HatterÄù. ÄúHe is like a family member, and a good hunting buddyÄù Mooney says about the raptor. Evansville, IN 10/30/11

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Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Falconer Jason Mooney of Boonville, Ind., attaches a radio transmitter to his Harris's Hawk, "Mad Hatter," before beginning a hunt on Evansville's East Side. The transmitter allows Mooney to find his hawk should he fly too far in chase of game.

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Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Alan Pope of Bloomington, Ind., and his Finnish Goshawk watch the brush for rabbits as fellow falconers do their best to scare the game from their hiding spots near Sam's Club on Evansville's East Side. Pope is the president of the Indiana Falconer's Association and joined a group of other falconers for the annual Evansville Field Meet.

2012 Darryl Smith

Falconer Brian Thorpe's goshawk flies low across the field on its way to perch in a nearby tree. Thorpe and his goshawk joined many other falconers. photos by Darryl Smith / Special to the Courier & Press

2012 Darryl Smith

Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Roger Chastain calls his goshawk back to his glove after an unsuccessful huntn. Chastain joined a group of other falconers for the annual Evansville Field Meet.

2012 Darryl Smith

Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Alan Pope of Bloomington, Ind., carries his Finnish Goshawk through the brush in a field near Sam's Club on Evansville's East Side. Pope is the President of The Indiana Falconer's Association and joined a group of other falconers for the annual Evansville Field Meet.

2012 Darryl Smith

Falconer Greg Howell of Owensboro, Ky., joined other falconers at the annual Evansville Field Meet. Howell brought his 2-year-old Gyr-Saker falcon, which is a hybrid of the Black Gyr Falcon, found in places such as Norway and Newfoundland and the Altai Mountains of Russia. "This is a man-made bird," Howell said. As a true falcon, its game consists mostly of other birds such as ducks, geese, pheasants and grouse.

2012 Darryl Smith

Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Jason Mooney of Boonville, Ind., releases his Harris's Hawk "Mad Hatter" to find a perch on a weekend afternoon. The two hunted for rabbits in overgrown fields between businesses and industrial buildings on the far East Side of Evansville. Mooney belongs to the Indiana Falconers Association and has recently completed his two-year apprenticeship.

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Alan Pope of Bloomington, Ind., and his Finnish Goshawk watch the brush for rabbits as fellow falconers do their best to scare the game from their hiding spots near Sam's Club on Evansville's East Side. Pope is president of the Indiana Falconers Association.

2012 Darryl Smith

Falconer Brian Thorpe and his red-tailed hawk hunted on Evansville's East Side as part of the annual Evansville Field Meet. The two were accompanied by other falconers who worked to scare up rabbits for the hawk. They were only able to roust one rabbit, but it scurried away.

2012 Darryl Smith

Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Falconer Tim Neese seems to have a discussion with his Gos Hawk ÄúSumaraÄù after she became uninterested in hunting on a weekend afternoon on EvansvilleÄôs East Side. It seemed that ÄúSumaraÄù needed to cast. The process of spitting up a pellet containing any parts of their food they do not digest such as feathers and bones. Evansville, IN 10/30/11

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Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Falconer Brian Thorpe and his red-tailed hawk hunted on Evansville's East Side. The two were accompanied by other falconers who worked to scare up rabbits for the hawks. They were only able to roust one rabbit, but it scurried away.

2012 Darryl Smith

Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press Falconer Jason Mooney of Boonville, Ind., carries his Harris Hawk "Mad Hatter" through thick brush in search of rabbits near a warehouse on Evansville's East Side. The pair have been hunting partners for a year. Mooney recently finished his two-year apprenticeship to become a General Falconer.

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Darryl Smith / Special to Courier & Press A portrait of Sumatra, a female North American Goshawk belonging to Tim Neese of Boonville, Ind.